Castello di Morsasco

Access to the old village and the castle is through a gatehouse that was converted into a bell tower in the 17th century. The first records of the castle date back to 1224 when the Republic of Genoa bequeathed it to the Marchesi Del Bosco family. The Malaspina family of Cremolino then came into ownership through marriage. In 1527, the castle was passed on as a dowry when Violante Malaspina married Count Giovan Battista Lodron, a member of the noble family from the Trentino region. At the end of the 16th century it passed to the Gonzaga Dukedom before being bought by Barnaba Centurione Scotto who initiated the enlargement and alterations that gave the castle its current appearance and was also responsible for the Real Tennis court (closed for restoration work). The elegant baroque chapel on the first floor is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Siena, the guardian of the family. The most recent restoration work dates back to 1921 when the castle was bought by Prince Domenico Pallavicino. The castle is noted for having been visited by San Luigi Gonzaga and for the cellars with their huge wooden barrels. The visit to the castle can be combined with a walk of approximately 6 km there and back in the lands of the ancient maquis property. The walk through the old village continues among woods, hazelnut groves and vineyards to Tenuta Tevoli. Today, the Villa Felice farm produces fine wines. The visit includes a historical tour of the castle: 18th century drawing rooms, internal chapel, the tower with prisons, dungeons, barns and historic cellars and garden. The 13th century dungeon hosts the permanent contemporary art exhibition #noname, the barn a collection of manually operated devices; in the cellars and in the park, it is possible to visit the International Biennial of Contemporary Sacred Art BIAS 2020. It is also possible to organise lunches and dinners for small and large groups in the castle; cooking school for small groups; falconry school for groups of up to 12 people.